Upcoming Events

May 15 – 18th, 2012 – 10th Annual BALLE Conference

REAL PROSPERITY STARTS HERE~
Whatever you had planned, cancel it, because the old economy is
crumbling around you and we have solutions you can’t afford to miss.

Save the date for the most innovative and inspiring business event of
the year: The 2012 BALLE Business Conference, proud to be held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, named “America’s Greenest City” by Fast Company magazine.

As home to nationally acclaimed BALLE network, Local First West Michigan, Grand Rapids has proven that even the forces of recession and industrial decline are no match for the economic power of a thriving community of innovative locally owned businesses. Grand Rapids has put apathy, malaise and economic decline on the ropes, and you don’t want to miss the final round.

Join more than 700 of the world’s most innovative community leaders, entrepreneurs, independent business owners, policymakers, economic development professionals, funders and investors for our 10 year anniversary in Grand Rapids, MI. Come for the cutting-edge solutions, stay for the party.

For more information, click on this link.

Thursday June 7th and Thursday June 21st

Beginning in June we are changing things up a bit here at Think Local First. Our members have spoken and coffee is good, but beer can be better! So, beginning June 21st we will be at The Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti from 5 to 7 pm. All are welcome to stop by have a beer, share a thought, and learn more about TLF.

What does that mean for our Even Thursday Coffee Hour? We decided that was too complicated so we are moving to a First Thursday format. We will be at Zingerman's Next Door from 8 am to 10 am on the first Thursday of every month.

Now we have two options for members and interested folks to stop and have a conversation. Our Executive Director will be at both events so look for her when you stop by. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Thursday May 31, 2012 ~ 7 to 9 PM

This is NOT our event (although we wish we had this great idea!) We are a sponsor and are going to go SLAM with the best. Come join us in this new event that sold out last time. Entre-Slam is hosting their second event at LIVE Ann Arbor. SLAM details below:

If your boss is in the mirror, you are an entrepreneur! Farmers, musicians, artists, techies, chefs, you name it. Entrepreneurs come in all shapes and sizes.

As entrepreneurs, we’ve all been to formal networking events in which we try to hand off as many business cards as possible, hoping to build those critical business relationships. Most people dread them. Entre-SLAM is a fun, painless way to meet and connect with your tribe and learn from the experiences of others without it feeling like work! Register here!

Friday June 9th ~ 6 to 9 PM

It will be the 12th year for the Mayors Green Fair and we will be there! Look for us in the non-profit section in downtown Ann Arbor from 6 to 9 pm on Friday June 8th. We will be among others that work toward a more green planet! Click this link to learn more.

Saturday and Sunday June 9th (10 am to 7 pm) & 10th (Noon to 5 pm)

Mission Zero Fest 2012 will be on June 9th and 10th and will feature; an all-star lineup of local and national musical acts, a stellar speaker list including a Nobel laureate, authors and experts on a wide array of sustainability topics, re-skilling demonstrations and "roving energy audits", a green home tour, food carts serving local food, chalk art, and so much more, all in the Water Hill neighborhood.

From home energy retrofits to homegrown tomatoes, Mission Zero Fest celebrates local, organic solutions to complex global problems. For our community, our country and our future, we seek to demonstrate real examples of conscious low-impact living, available all around us, in a fun and festive atmosphere.

Their goal is to be a catalyst for communities that harvest their own water and energy, and create zero waste. Click this link to learn more. Both events are free and open to the public. Come and participate in educational fun that will inspire awareness and action.

Tuesday June 12th - 6 PM

The Women Business Owners of Southeastern Michigan are hosting their June 12th meeting at Cafe Marie and have invited our Executive Director to be the guest speaker. All are welcome to attend this talk where you will learn to "Make it Your Business to Think Local First". The evening begins at 6 pm. Bring $10 with you if you are not a member. There will be a light meal provided along with wine.

Saturday June 16th ~ 11 am to 2 pm

We are hosting the Depot Town Strawberry Showcase! The community is invited to take a self-guided tour through depot town to sample a strawberry food item four locations. Our tour begins at the Depot Town Farmers Market, then to Harvest Kitchen, and Ypsi Food Coop, and ending at The Corner Brewery. Pick up a "passport", have it stamped at all four locations and then enter to win a $25 gift certificate from each business! This event is running from 11 am to 2 pm.  More details will follow shortly, but put this on your calendar now!

Saturday June 23, 2012 ~ 8 pm

We loved them so much, we are sponsoring them again! Orpheum Bell and Eastern Block are back! We are sponsoring this show that features a pair of Midwestern bands that make music rooted in the distant past, yet totally innovative. The Los Angeles Times calls Eastern Blok’s music “relentlessly innovative work.” Acoustic Guitar raves that Eastern Blok plays with “blazing virtuosity and sheer beauty.” Innovation is the musical mantra for the Chicago world fusion jazz ensemble Eastern Blok. For more information click here, or to purchase tickets for only $15, click here!

PREVIOUS EVENTS

Friday May 4, 2012 ~ 8 PM

This month we are sponsoring Cairn to Cairn at The Ark. The upcoming Cairn to Cairn album contains new melodic originals with lush classic reinterpretations. This is the official CD release performance featuring David Mansfield.  To learn more click on this link, or to buy tickets for only $15, click here!

Saturday April 14, 2012 ~ 7:30 PM

We are the sponsor of Mr. B’s Piano Celebration ~ Mr. B has established himself as a force to be reckoned with. He is an electrifying performer and creative individualist who puts it all on the line with every show, using his knowledge of seven decades of boogie to good advantage. This hard working pianist has been playing his infectious brand of blues and boogie for audiences coast to coast, but calls Ann Arbor home. Tickets may be purchased at the door of through this link for $25.

Thursday March 29th ~ 11 am

The 3rd annual B2B Expo is coming up on Thursday March 29th and we are going to be there! Stop by this one-day free event that promotes business success, economic development and entrepreneurship in Washtenaw County. Featuring more than 40 exhibitors, free workshops, networking and door prizes.

PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION: Join Ingrid Ault, Executive Director of Think Local First, as she discusses the positive impact that getting to know your neighbors can have upon your business.

TITLED: Make it Your Business to Think Local FIrst

WHEN: Thursday, March 29 from 11am to noon

LOCATION: Morris Lawrence Building (Campus of Washtenaw Community College) To reserve your seat, pre-register at this link.

We hope to see you at the Expo that is running from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

We are participating in the 50th Ann Arbor Film Festival as a community partner for The Strawberry Tree, taking place Thursday, March 29th @ 9:15pm at the Michigan Theater. If you enter this code – AAFF50TLF – when buying online tickets, you will get $3 off the advance ticket price ($10 standard)! This screening is likely to sell out in the theater’s smaller screening room, so advanced tickets and arriving early are recommended.

Testing the boundaries between anthropology, documentary and reverie, THE STRAWBERRY TREE is a mesmerizing cinematic poem that portrays with rigorous restraint the final sigh of one of Cuba’s last fishing villages. Besides the introductory sequence, the film was entirely shot in the remote hamlet of Juan Antonio, only weeks before it disappeared at the hands of a hurricane. The film primarily focuses on the daily routines of two families while they prepare for Children’s Day and the next day’s fishing expedition. Their ingeniousness and resilience, as well as their playful and irreverent attitude toward the filmmaker, provide a continuous source of reflection and amusement.

The Ann Arbor Film Festival is the longest-running independent and experimental film festival in North America. The 50th AAFF takes place March 27th – April 1st, 2012 and presents over 200 films, videos and live media performances from more than 20 countries with dozens of U.S., N. American and world premieres. For more info click here!

Friday March 23, 2012 ~ 8 PM

We are the sponsor of The Ragbirds at The Ark on Friday March 23rd. They have been described as positive, richly rhythmic, globally oriented sounds. Led by dynamic, energetic front woman and multi-instrumentalist Erin Zindle, The Ragbirds utilize an arsenal of instruments from around the world. The Ragbirds are a fusion of folk, rock, and pop hooks over danceable world rhythms, stirred with a Celtic fiddler’s bow. Tickets may be purchased at the door of through this link for $20.

Wednesday March 21, 2012 ~ 5:30 to 7:30 PM

pot and box & METAL are co-hosting an opportunity to meet Lucy Ann Lance and Dean Erskine of The Lucy Ann Lance Business Insider Show. Have you been thinking about taking advantage of the free opportunity for members to join TLF on their show? Perhaps you’ve been a little nervous? Maybe having the chance to meet Lucy Ann and Dean would be just the push for you to decide to do this!

If so, then this is the event for you! This is your opportunity to meet the staff of The Lucy Ann Lance Business Insider Show and hear more about how they can help promote you! Lucy Ann will also be talking about how she uses social marketing as a tool to promote their business. You won’t want to miss this opportunity!

Stop by pot and box & METAL (220 Felch, Ann Arbor) on Wednesday March 21st between 5:30 and 7:30 pm to food, beverages, and fun! As usual, so we can plan accordingly, we are asking you to pre-register here.

Saturday February 11, 2011 ~ 8 PM

“Music to cure what ails you”—Michigan Times.
We are the sponsor for this show at The Ark.

From their start at an open mike at The Ark in the summer of 1974, Mustard’s Retreat
is an award-winning duo consisting of David Tamulevich and Michael
Hough has become a perennial favorite, not only here in southeastern
Michigan but all over the folk singer-songwriter circuit. Their songwriting and recordings have received consistently high praise, and their live performances even more so. Tickets are $15 and available at this link.

Thursday February 9, 2012 ~ 5:30 to 7:30 PM

Amish Tables is hosting our next event that discusses the new Ann Arbor PACE program. This program allows qualifying property owners to borrow money for energy efficiency projects ranging from $10,000 to $350,000 and then pay back the loans through special assessments added onto their tax bills for up to 10 years.

If you would like to learn more, then you’ll want to stop by from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Amish Tables (located at 4844 Jackson Road in Suite 200) on Thursday February 9th. You’ll learn about energy efficiency upgrades and how they affect your home and pocketbook. Doug Selby of Meadowlark Builders will begin the presentation at 6 pm. with PACE Program Manager Wendy Barrott following up with details about participation. Wendy will also discuss the launch of their new program A2 Energy.

You won’t want to miss this! This event is FREE for members, and $10 (payable at the door) by cash or check for others. We hope to see you soon! Pre-registration is requested at this link.

Thursday, January 19, 2012 ~ 8 PM

We have a team formed for the the A2Ethics.org 2012 Big Ethical Question SLAM 2 competition! Our team, All Ethics Are Local will be competing on Thursday, January 19, 2012 at Conor O’Neill’s (318 S. Main Street in Ann Arbor) beginning at 8 pm. our supporters and spectators are most welcome,
if only to stop by and see what an ethics sound-off and show-off is
about. for more information about the challenge or to register your own
team, click on this link.

We hope to see many of you at the event to cheer on the All Ethics Are Local team! We are competing for a $600 first place cash prize AND the philosopher’s hat for the
year, to prominently display to our membership!

Friday January 6, 2012 ~ 8 PM

We are the sponsor for this show at The Ark. Black Jake & the Carnies set fierce murder ballads, dark warnings, and a certain tough rust-belt revivalism to the beat of an old-time string band. This octet offers a unique blend of Americana, bluegrass, and punk. Tickets are $15 and available at this link.

Friday December 16, 2011 ~ 5 PM to 10 PM

“Salon … in process” presents “Local Arts Supporting the Local Economy”, a fundraiser
for Think Local First. Your suggested donation of $10 will help us produce our 2012 Resource Guide that we provide free to the community. Please come for art, music, food and fun!

This will be at the new Studio/Residence of Paul M Hickman + Marcy Felice. Come and check out the new digs and see where it is headed. They have big plans to take this vintage 1950′s passive solar home to “Net Zero”.

WHAT YOU’LL SEE:

• Nancy Bulkley ~ Functional + Sculptural Ceramics
• Helen Gotlib ~ Figurative Drawings + Paintings + Print Making
• Dylan Strzynski ~ Mixed Media “Additive/Subtractive Landscapes”
• Zeke Mallory ~ Posters + Prints + Flyers – “A Private Collection” – Original Designs & Hand Pulled Screen Prints from Ann Arbor Folk Festival, Mr. Flood’s Party & Frog Island Festival
• Paul M. Hickman ~ Hand-Rendered Furniture Drawings – “A Retrospective” + New Monochromatic Photographs
• Urban Ashes ~ Picture Frames

WHAT YOU’LL HEAR:

• Chris Bathgate ~ A Michigan Singer/Songwriter

“A skilled purveyor of lovely gloom … If Bathgate has mastered one thing in his young and enormously promising career, it’s the art of distilling alienation into bruised-sounding beauty.” ~ Stephen Thompson, NPR

WHO IS PROVIDING TASTES & DRINKS:

Zingerman’s, By The Pound, Morgan & York, Ann Arbor Brewing Company, Silvio’s and eat!

Please let us know you are coming at this link. We want to be sure to have enough food and drink!

Saturday December 10, 2011 ~ 8 PM

Think Local First is sponsoring this show at The Ark: The Ragbirds present Ebird and Friends. A holiday show from Ragbirds’ frontwoman Erin
Zindle (“Ebird”) showcasing contemporary songwriters & groups.
Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at this link.

Friday December 2nd through Saturday the 10th, 2011

Buy Local Week begins December
2nd! Look for our Occupy Washtenaw County posters and other marketing
materials reminding folks to think local during the holiday shopping
season.

For the first time, Think Local First, Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE – our parent organization), the Institute for Local Self Reliance, the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) and other partners have joined forces to promote the new campaign “Shift Your Shopping.”

Using the tagline “Choose Local and Independent this Holiday Season,”
the coalition has created a range of graphics and ideas under the Shift Your Shopping name.

We all will promote this collaborative effort to drive more traffic to independent businesses, even while we expand our organizations’ own branded campaign, Buy Local Week. Stay tuned for details about how we will be marketing this during the holiday season.

Remember that every dollar that is spent in our local economy recirculates 2.5 times creating economic wealth right here. You do have the power to affect how your community looks by the choices that you make with your dollars!

Saturday November 26, 2011 ~ 8 PM

We are the sponsor for the Mr. B show at The Ark! Mr. B makes you
give thanks for blues and boogie piano! Each year he stops in at The Ark
for a Thanksgiving weekend concert, and it always brings something new
from this local treasure. Mr. B brings in musicians from around
southeast Michigan and beyond for a boogie and jazz blowout to kick off
the holiday season with a big dose of boogie woogie joy. Tickets are $20
and can be purchased at this link.

Tuesday November 15, 2011 ~ 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Our annual meeting on Tuesday November 15th is the launch of Buy Local Week. This year we will have three guest speakers focusing on what is happening at the national level in the local movement and marketing your business and what is happening at BALLE. No matter what you do, you will find this useful!
Paul Sagniaw, co-owner of Zingerman’s and a BALLE board member will inspire us with an update of what is happening in the local movement right here in Michigan. Plus, The Whole Brain Group will share how social marketing can help your business. Finally, we will have re:group discuss how to brand your business identity. There will plenty of time for questions, so be sure to put this on your calendar.

The meeting will be held at Zingerman’s Events on Fourth in the former location of Eve at 415 N. Fourth Ave. in Kerrytown Ann Arbor. Our doors open at 6 p.m. with the program
beginning at 6:30 p.m. Stop by for a plethora of food and beverages from Think Local First members. The evening is free for members and $10 (payable by cash or check) at the door for non-members. Please pre-register here so that we may prepare appropriately at this link.

Friday November 4, 2011 ~ 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Come join us at Abracadabra Jewelry/Gem Gallery for some pre-holiday cheer!
Owners Katherine and Steven Lesse invite you to stop in on Friday
November 4th to enjoy locally sourced food and beverages provided by Think Local First members.

Stop by between 6 and 9 p.m. to share in this joint TLF member appreciation and Abracadabra customer appreciation party.

As always, please let us know that you are coming. We want to be sure to have enough for everyone. Here is the link to sign up! This event is free for everyone, but only if you let us know you are coming! Abracadabra is located at 205 E. Liberty (across from the federal building) in Ann Arbor. We hope to see you there!

Friday, October 7, 2011 ~ 8 PM

Think Local First is proud to be a sponsor of this showcase of young local talent! Join us in the Commons at the University of Michigan Museum of Art and hear the music being written and performed by songwriters at UM, EMU and WCC. This is another great program offer by The Ark that we are thrilled to be a part of. And best of all, it’s free to attend and you may just hear the next big thing!

Thursday September 22, 2011 – 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM

Come join us at Heavenly Metal
for an open house! Celebrate the beginning of fall with other members
and enjoy the early evening in this quirky and charming shop on E. Ann
St. in Kerrytown Ann Arbor.

We’ll be serving finger foods from Teahaus and tapping some delicious beer from Arbor Brewing Company. This event is free for Think Local First members and $10 for others. Please help us plan accordingly and preregister using this link.

We are looking forward to seeing you soon!

Saturday September 10, 2011 – 6 PM

It’s that
time of the year again! We’ll be at the 4th annual Homegrown Festival
held at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market. The HomeGrown Festival celebrates
local food and community and seeks to focus broad mainstream attention
on the community-wide benefits (and pleasure!) of eating from our own
foodshed. This year’s Festival offers:

 

• Delicious, creative food: sourced from Michigan farms, made by some of our area’s best local chefs
• Music from: great local bands
• Local Libations from: fine Michigan beer and wine producers
• Project Grow: heirloom tomato tasting
• Chef demos: turning the season’s best produce into delicious meals
• Kids’ activities: learn about bees, pressing cider, planting vegetables

Stop by between 6 and 11 PM to participate. For further information, click this link.

Friday September 2, 2011 – 8 PM

We are sponsoring a pair of Michigan bands that make music rooted in the distant past, yet are totally innovative. The Red Sea Pedestrians
are a musical melting pot, bringing together six distinctive
multi-instrumentalists and singer-songwriters to investigate klezmer
music and a host of other styles. Turning half-forgotten musical styles
into something absolutely modern, gripping, and often hypnotic, Orpheum Bell has created something new and different in Michigan music—and American music.

For tickets, click this link. You can see this show for only $15!

Sunday August 7, 2011 – 8 PM

We are the sponsors for Jan Krist & Jim Bizer who are playing at The Ark.

A longtime Detroit-area songwriter who has garnered lots of national
attention, Jan Krist has been a four-time Detroit Music Award winner and
a finalist at the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas.
Entertainment Weekly praised the “breathtaking leaps” of Jan’s voice and
opined that she “makes soul-searching more enjoyable than it has any
right to be.” If you’ve never heard Jan Krist, check her out—her
songwriting voice is serious, completely Midwestern, and unafraid of
depth.

Sharing tonight’s bill is Michigan songwriter Jim Bizer,
who sings about faith, rivers, insanity and a few things you’ve probably
never heard before in a song–like a romance that got started with a
man falling off of a 30-story building. A member of the Yellow Room Gang
and a three-time finalist in the New Folk Songwriting Competition at
the Kerrville Folk Festival, Jim won the grand prize in the Great
American Song Contest for his September 11 reflection, “We Are All
Connected.”

For tickets, click this link. You can see this show for only $15!

Monday July 18, 2011 ~ 5 to 9 PM

Stop by our table and pick up a FREE backpack or bumper sticker!
While you visit, tell us why supporting local independently owned
businesses are important to you. In turn, we’ll give you one of the
above after 6 PM (we have about 100 backpacks and about 150 pins and bumper stickers). Consider it our thanks for supporting
local!

There will be food, beverages and all kinds of other
things to do while you are here. We hope to see you at the Townie Street Party! We’ll be looking for you.

Friday July 15, 2011 ~ 8 PM

Ten times a year Think Local First sponsors artists at The Ark. This month we are proudly hosting Chris Bathgate and Abigail Stauffer on Friday July 15th at 8 PM.

They are contemporary songwriters from the local area and are billed as two of southeast Michigan’s rising songwriters. Click this link to learn more about Chris Bathgate. And click this link to learn about Abigail Stauffer.

Tickets are still available for $15, click on this link to buy yours now!

Wednesday July 6, 2011 ~ 5:30 to 7:30 PM

Burnt Toast Inn
recently remodeled their kitchen and would like to show it off. Come to
this networking event to experience this lovely whole house rental with
a beautiful garden. Sandhill Crane Vineyards will be serving wine, Unitity Living Vibration will have their Kombutcha Tea, and Mindo Chocolate Makers will be sampling chocolate.

This event is free for members, their employees, and $10 for others. Pre-registration is required. Please click on this link to let us know you are coming.

Sunday June 19, 2011 ~ 5:30 to 9:30 PM

Our 4th Annual Member & Supporter Appreciation Party at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival.
Come enjoy desserts, seated massage and a cash bar while listening to
local music. Bring your family, friends and anyone who might like to
learn more about Think Local First to this free event for all.

Here is what is happening during this event:

Deep Fried Pickle Project ~ 5 PM
~ This family friendly band has brought their inventive, hilarious
songs in the styles of bluegrass, honky tonk, folk, rockabilly and blues
all over the country.

Drivin’ Sideways ~ 8 PM ~ This band plays “real country music” and a mixture of classic country, blues, rock covers and original material.

Movie ~ Despicable Me ~ 10 PM

Plus all kinds of activities including extreme face painting
by Body Masterpiece (call 994-5999 X. 202 beginning June 1st to reserve
your spot, they fill up fast), activites and attractions at the
KidZone, a portable climbing wall and Tai Chi and Chi Kung classes, plus more! See this link to see the complete line up!

If you would like to come, please pre-register using this link. We want to know who is planning to stop by. We don’t want to run out of cupcakes!

Saturday June 11, 2011 ~ 8 PM

We are sponsoring The RFD
Boys show at The Ark on Saturday June 11th. They have been delighting
southeastern Michigan audiences since 1969 with their fabulous
musicianship and sly, exquisitely timed between-song humor. If you’re
new to the area and even if you aren’t, come and check ‘em out–you’ll
find a real slice of musical Ann Arbor, and probably make some new
friends! Click this link for more information.

Friday June 10, 2011 ~ 6 to 9 PM

Think Local
First will be at the 11th annual Mayor’s
Green Fair from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Look for our table and stop by to
hear what is new and pick up some Think Local First swag! We’ll be among
other businesses and organizations that focus and practice sustainable
business practices. Come ride a multiple person bike, participate in
activities, and learn what the green
movement is all about. It promises to be a fun evening for kids
of all ages!

Thursday May 26, 2011 ~ 5:30 to 7:30 PM

Vintage Financial Services hosted this networking event on the eighth floor of the 101 N. Main
St. building in downtown Ann Arbor. Folks enjoyed a beer from Arbor Brewing Company and small bites from Melange on their terraces overlooking Main St. This event was free for members, their employees, and $10 for others. Pre-registration is always requested so we’ll know how to prepare. Please look for current events to see how you can learn more!

Sunday March 27, 2011 – Community Partner with The Ann Arbor Film Festival

Think Local First is the community partner for the film Foreign Parts.
This film is a remarkable documentary about Willets Point, a
neighborhood in Queens, NY; where scrappers survive in an automobile
wasteland facing the shadows of a new Mets stadium. Filled with scrap
yards and auto salvage shops, lacking sidewalks or sewage lines, the
area seems ripe for urban development.

This program took place Sunday, March 27 @ 3pm at the Michigan Theater. Please utilize this code AAFF49TLF when buying online tickets to get $4 off the advance ticket price ($9 standard)!

March 15th, 2011 – 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

This event SOLD OUT! Think Local First hosted a networking event on Tuesday
March 15th at Seva Restaurant. Attendees participated in a wine tasting of Michigan made wines provided by Sandhill
Crane Vineyards along with a wonderful spread of delicious appetizers. If you missed it or it you’d like to see if we captured you on film, check out our facebook page by clicking on this link.

February 24th, 2011


Our
Executive Director Ingrid Ault was the guest speaker at the Concentrate
monthly speaker series. She spoke at Conor O’neill’s discussing what
is happening in the local movement on Thursday February 24th from 5 to 7
PM..

She reported on the local results for the national
survey our members recently participated in as well as “local washing”.
(What is that anyway?)

For more details on the Washtenaw County results from the nationwide survey, click here. Or to see the presentation she gave click on this link.

December 3rd to December 11th, 2010

Buy Local Week
is right around the corner! Look for our stickers and posters in member
windows and don’t forget to support them during the holiday season.
While you are visiting, look for our new 2011 Resouce Guide. Pick up a
copy and use it when making your purchasing decisions! Thanks for
supporting Think Local First members!

November 15th, 6 to 8 PM – Our Annual Meeting

Save the date! Our annual meeting is scheduled for Monday November 15th from 6 to 8 pm. We will be holding it at the amazing Vitosha Guest Haus Inn
(1917 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor) with a special guest speaker that is
fully engaged in the local movement. Last year we heard what was
happening on the national level from Paul Saginaw, a board member of our
parent organization BALLE. This year we have the director of Local First, Grand Rapids, Elissa Hillary
coming to share what they have been up to. Besides becoming a hub
network for BALLE, they have several successful programs that she will
share with the group. They are an example of a BALLE member that has
made major progress in moving forward with the local message. You won’t
want to miss hearing what they have done that sets them apart from the
rest!

This event is free for members and member employees. For all others, the cost is $10 at the door and will include appetizers, desserts and beverages. (Please bring cash or a check with you to the event.) If you plan to attend, click this link to register.

October 1st to the 31st – The 3rd Annual Ann Arbor Treasure Hunt

The Ann Arbor Treasure Hunt
is preparing to hoist its sails for a 3rd year in a row. They’re
getting ready to set sail on another fun adventure through the rolling
seas of Ann Arbor! This is an invitation for your business to join The
Hunt, and be a part of this growing annual event.

This month long event
will be held in Ann Arbor from October 1st to the 31st. This is your
opportunity to invite participants to explore your business looking for a
clue that must be solved prior to setting sail to their next
destination. It is a great way to introduce yourself to various
participants who may not know what you offer.

To learn more, click on this link that will take you to all of the details!

Wednesday September 22nd, 2010- Community Partner with Stonyfield Sustainability Film Series

Food Gatherers, the Peoples Food Co-op and the Ann Arbor Film
Festival are teaming up with organic yogurt maker, Stonyfield to present
a film series in August and September focusing on sustainability. The
Stonyfield Sustainability Film Series will be shown each Wednesday
evening at the Michigan Theater. The cost is $6 for each film.

Think Local First is the community partner for the final film, INGREDIENTS
that focuses on the farmers and chefs who are creating a sustainable
food system. Their work has resulted in great tasting food and an
explosion of awareness about the benefits of eating local.

This film will be showing on Wednesday September 22nd at 7 pm. Guest
speakers include Jeff McCabe of Friday Mornings at SELMA and Molly
Notariani of the Ann Arbor Farmers Market.
All proceeds will benefit Food Gatherers.

To learn more about this series, see these links:
the Michigan Theater, the Ann Arbor Film Festival, and the Stonyfield website.

Saturday, September 11, 2010, 6:00-11:00pm

3rd ANNUAL HOMEGROWN FESTIVAL
Ann Arbor Farmers’ Market, 315 Detroit St., Ann Arbor, MI

The 3rd Annual Homegrown Festival was an undeniable success! We visited with more people than we could count sharing the local message. Fairgoers were treated to locally produced food and beverages while listening to local music. What a treat for all! We can’t wait for next years gathering! Thanks to the steering committee for putting on such a fabulous event!

Photos can be found on our facebook page. Click here!

Thursday September 9th, 2010 – Network with Think Local First Members!

Think Local First launched our new evening networking sessions at Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti on Thursday September 9th.
We hosted a networking event that included a tour of the brewery. We
plan to offer more opportunities like this in the future. Stay tuned for
our next event!

For those that are on facebook, we posted photos of the event there. Click this link to see who was there!

July 19th, 2010 – TLF will be at the Townie Street Party!

Stop by our table and pick up a FREE T-shirt or bumper sticker!
While you visit, tell us why supporting local independently owned
businesses are important to you. In turn, we’ll give you one of the
above (we gave 130 T-shirts away and about 300 pins and bumper stickers). Consider it our thanks for supporting
local!

There will be food, beverages and all kinds of other
things to do while you are here. We hope to see you at the Townie Street Party! We’ll be looking for you.

July 1st, 2010 – Ann Arbor Summer Festival Party

The date for our annual Ann Arbor Summer Festival
Party was July
1st from 6 to 9 p.m. This
event was open to members and supporters of Think Local First. It was attended by over 150 people who enjoyed live music, dessets and a cash bar. Here was the line up for
the evening:

Gemini played at 6:30 PM. Madcat, Kane & Maxwell Street took the stage
at 8 PM. And the evening finished with the classic
movie Plan 9 From Outer Space at 10 PM.

We will also had chair massage
sponsored by RelaxStation and face painting by Gretchen’s House. We had fun stuff for all ages! Thanks to those that stopped by to say hello and
support Think Local First of Washtenaw County. For more information
about the Ann Arbor Summer Festival click
here.

Special thanks to the following for sponsoring our
party! Without them this wouldn’t have happened.
Ann Arbor State Bank
Complete Chiropractic
Gretchen’s House
Kleinschmidt Insurance
Urban Ashes

June 11, 2010 – Ann Arbor Mayor’s Green Fair

Think Local
First will be at the 10th annual Mayor’s
Green Fair from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Look for our table and stop by to
hear what is new and pick up some Think Local First swag! We’ll be among
other businesses and organizations that focus and practice sustainable
business practices. Come ride a multiple person bike, participate in
activities, and learn what the green
movement is all about. It promises to be a fun evening for kids
of all ages!

Monday November 23, 2009 – Annual Meeting at Big George’s

Think Local First is hosting its annual meeting on Monday November 23, 2009 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Big George’s. They have a beautiful functional kitchen area that we will be using.

Our guest speaker is Paul Saginaw, co-founder of the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses. He was recently appointed to the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies board, our parent organization. He will give us an update as to what they have planned for the next year. Many Think Local First members do not realize that we are part of a larger movement. BALLE currently has 64 networks in the U.S. and Canada all working to promote sustainable local economies. This is your opportunity to hear what is happening on the national level.

We will be serving a light meal of finger type foods. Plus our guest chef Natalie Marble from Ann Arbor Cooks! will be preparing something delicious on site. (She hasn’t told us what yet, but our mouths are already watering!) So, come hungry and ready to learn and meet folks! We will be satiating all appetites at our annual meeting!

Tuesday June 16th, 2009 7 PM to 10 PM

Our second annual member and supporter appreciation party was Tuesday June 16th from 7 PM to 10 PM at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival. It was a relaxing evening that included chair massage and a plethora of delicious desserts. And all for free!

This was a party for kids of all ages! Stucchi’s provided ice cream for the young and young at heart. Other treats where provided by Great Harvest, Teahaus and a host of home bakers from Complete Chiropractic. Plus live music was provided by
Black Jake and the Carnies and Joe Serrapere and the Willie Dunns. The evening finished with the film The Forbidden Kingdom which began at dusk. There was something for everyone!

If you didn’t make it this year, watch for next year. It was an event not to be missed!

Thursday March 26th, 2009 6 PM to 7:30 PM

Why bank local? How do
you get a loan? Can you detect fraud? What’s changed lately? All of
these questions and more will be answered at the local banking seminar! United Bank and Trust and Think Local First are teaming
together to provide members and interested folks with information that
will assist you in making business and personal banking decisions from
an informed perspective.

Come learn:

* The true community impact of local banking,
* How to protect your business from fraud and counterfeit items,
* What bankers look for when assessing loan applications,
* Other banking related questions you may have, answered by a myriad of experienced folks.

Join
Think Local First and United Bank & Trust for an evening of
information and finger food at the UBAT Zeeb Road (355 South Zeeb Rd. -
1/2 mile south of Jackson Road on the left side) location on Thursday
March 26th from 6 PM to 7:30 PM.

Mark your calendar to share in
an exciting opportunity to learn how the banking industry has changed
over the past year and more! This event was chock full of information that we are considering scheduling another in the fall. Stay tuned for future opportunities to learn about local banking!

Special thanks to Zingerman’s Roadhouse for providing the delicious finger food for our event!

Wednesday January 28, 2009 7:15 PM

A great big thank you to all who came and supported Think Local First at the Michigan Theater showing of Asparagus! Stalking the American Life.

We were thrilled to see over 140 local food fans in attendance. Director Kirsten Kelly was honored that so many came to see her film and hear of the plight that her home town endured after U.S. policy changed to provide subsidies for Peruvian farmers to grow asparagus instead of cocoa. She remarked that it was one of the most enthusiastic audiences she had ever seen at a screening.

For those that missed it, here is the link to learn more. Copies of the DVD are available now and a portion of the proceeds goes directly to Osceola County, her community in peril.

Wednesday November 5, 2009 – Annual Meeting

At the Think Local First annual meeting two exciting things happened! First, Judy Wicks, a leader in the local living economy movement discussed what a local living economy is. She stressed it is about maximizing relationships, not maximizing profits. About a living return, not the highest return. Sharing, not hoarding. Being more, not having more.

Though Wicks is from Philadelphia – her 25-year-old White Dog Cafe is how she walks the talk in Philly – the evening’s event was all about how communities can foster and sustain themselves at the local level, regardless of where “local” is on the map.

The other exciting event occurred when the Think Local First board presented founder and outgoing executive director, Lisa Dugdale with an award honoring her hard work and dedication. Without her tireless work and hundreds of volunteer hours we would not be where we are now. Think Local First is grateful and thanked her for her dedication to the movement!

The Ann Arbor Chronicle covered the evening. Here is a link to their write-up.

Tuesday Sept 16, 2008 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm.

Great Harvest Bread Co.
hosted a gathering where members had an
opportunity to meet fellow Think Local First members and munch on delicious baked goods including sandwiches, tea cakes, and other delectables.

We unveiled our Buy Local Week program and discussed how we could link our
on-line newsletters together to increase holiday sales. Keep your eye open to see what we have in store for Buy Local Week scheduled for November 15th through November 22nd.

Any member who was unable to attend the event but would like to learn more, should contact Ingrid at (734) 730-6905 or Ingrid@thinklocalfirst.net. We have many projects in store for that week including the delivery of our new 2009 directory!

Finally, a very big thank you to Dan and Janene Centurione for hosting the evening!

 

June 28th 6pm to 10 pm, Ann Arbor Summer Festival – Ingalls Mall on UM campus

Our meet & greet the new Executive Director was on Saturday June 28, 2008 at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival. Members came to say hello and enjoy an evening of free entertainment. They were treated to an assortment of goodies from our desert table and music by FUBAR and Lady Sunshine and the X Band.

However, the real treat was an outdoor performance by The Dream Machine from the United Kingdom. Aerialists called the Conedancers flew and tumbled around the edge of an inflated 26-foot giant cone. It was an outdoor spectacular enjoyed by thousands!

The evening was enjoyed by kids of all ages! We hope to host another exciting event such as this one next year. Thanks to everyone who came down to support us!

April 2nd 5:30-7pm, Motawi Tileworks – 170 Enterprise Drive (A2, 48103)

Arrive at 5:30pm to have a chance to make a tile, and then at 6pm we’ll hear from Nawal Motawi.

She will be talking about how Motawi Tileworks applies current management ideas and innovations such as Lean Manufacturing, on-line tools, and The World Café to strengthen the company. She will reveal her favorite sources for new ideas and inspiration, and then we’ll have a Q&A and sharing of ideas from other business attendees. This event is free and everyone is invited. Call Lisa @ 730-6905 with any questions about the event.

National Events

May 15 – 18th, 2012 – 10th Annual BALLE Conference

 

REAL PROSPERITY STARTS HERE~
Whatever you had planned, cancel it, because the old economy is crumbling around you and we have solutions you can’t afford to miss.
Save the date for the most innovative and inspiring business event of the year: The 2012 BALLE Business Conference, proud to be held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, named “America’s Greenest City” by Fast Company magazine.
As home to nationally acclaimed BALLE network, Local First West Michigan, Grand Rapids has proven that even the forces of recession and industrial decline are no match for the economic power of a thriving community of innovative locally owned businesses. Grand Rapids has put apathy, malaise and economic decline on the ropes, and you don’t want to miss the final round.
Join more than 700 of the world’s most innovative community leaders, entrepreneurs, independent business owners, policymakers, economic development professionals, funders and investors for our 10 year anniversary in Grand Rapids, MI. Come for the cutting-edge solutions, stay for the party.

 

For more information, click on this link.

June 14 -17, 2011 – 9th Annual BALLE Conference

Think Local First is one of 80 BALLE networks in the US and Canada that are creating local living economies in their hometowns and cities by connecting the dots between independent retail, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, green building, local manufacturing, and community capital.

This years BALLE conference is being held in Bellingham, Washington. The New Economy is being shaped at the grassroots level. Connect, share and learn from 700 pioneering business owners and investors, elected officials, philanthropists, economic development professionals and BALLE network leaders as we spotlight the most innovative and entrepreneurial approaches to growing healthy, resilient local economies.

To find out more, click on this link. BALLE members have been on the forefront of the local movement and this conference promises to be another great opportunity to learn more about what is happening nationally and regionally.